Project Grant 03D31124

DESCRIPTION:THIS ACTION APPROVES FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,549,116 TO THE STATE OF KENTUCKY ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT CABINET TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA). THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO SUPPORT AND ADVANCE THE GULF HYPOXIA ACTION PLAN THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUSTAINED NUTRIENT ADVANCEMENT IN KENTUCKY (SNAK) WHICH WILL ADDRESS NUTRIENT REDUCTION STRATEGY MANAGEMENT AND TO PRIORITIZE NUTRIENT INVESTMENTS IN MUNICIPAL STORMWATER AND AGRICULTURE CONSERVATION PRACTICES. ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE NUTRIENT REDUCTION STRATEGY MANAGEMENT, PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION. ADDITIONALLY, THE PLAN WILL PRIORITIZE NUTRIENT INVESTMENTS IN MUNICIPAL STORMWATER AND AGRICULTURE CONSERVATION PRACTICES. FUNDING WILL MAINTAIN MARKETING OF KENTUCKY'S AGRICULTURE WATER QUALITY ACT PLANNING TOOL AND SUPPORT LONG-TERM FUNDING OF KENTUCKY'S STREAM GAGING NETWORK EXPANSION TO HELP MITIGATE HYPOXIA IN THE NEARBY GULF WATERWAYS. SUBRECIPIENT:SUBAWARDS: US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY FOR STREAM GAUGES; RED RIVER NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; DIVISION OF CONSERVATION FOR NO-TILL PROGRAM, AND UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY FOR POST-CONSTRUCTION OF MS4 PROJECT. OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE PERFORMANCE AND FINAL REPORTS, DEVELOPING A GULF HYPOXIA NUTRIENT REDUCTION STRATEGY, NUTRIENT-FOCUSED STORMWATER TOOLS FOR MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEMS, ANNUAL MAINTENANCE OF TWO USGS STREAM GAGING STATIONS, AND INSTALLATION OF AGRICULTURE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE REDUCING WASTEWATER NUTRIENT DISCHARGES AND DECREASING AGRICULTURAL NUTRIENT LOSSES THROUGH CONSERVATION PRACTICE INSTALLATION AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANNING. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE CITIZENS OF KENTUCKY, AS WELL AS WATER-BASED BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI ATCHAFALAYA RIVER BASIN AREA.